Abhiroop Das
Episode 9 of Invasion’s third season, titled ‘Homecoming,’ brings the fight between the Infinitas cult and the World Defense Coalition unit to the forefront of the narrative, with neither side shying away from shedding blood and making sacrifices. However, in keeping with the Apple TV+ show’s emphasis on the human aspect of violence, the episode brings a keen lens to Clark and Aneesha’s turbulent relationship and how they respond to these changing tides. While Trevante Cole and Mitsuki Yamato deal with the grander themes and challenges of the story, particularly in light of another alien invasion creeping up on the horizon, Aneesha and her partner tackle the psychological impact. By extension, the duo doubles as an extrinsic representation of humanity in and of itself. As such, the ups and downs in Clark’s life reflect the show’s social commentary on many levels, with the most pertinent question being the tug between a comfortable life and an adventurous one. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Clark Evans is Sneakily Killed at the Hands of Marilyn AKA Infinitas
At the end of the penultimate episode of Invasion’s third season, Clark and Aneesha briefly share a moment of joy over their victory, with the former also realizing what he truly desires in life: the comfort of his family. This moment of reconciliation, however, is short-lived as the very next moment, Clark is shot dead by none other than Marylin. While this comes as her revenge for the death of Langley, it also has to do with the fact that Marylin has previously interacted with Clark and Aneesha first-hand. His background as the leader of a former alien fighting force, the Movement, also narratively pits him against the Infinitas cult, making his conclusion all the more tragic. As he drops to the ground, Aneesha rushes to grab his lifeless body in pure shock, with the loss only gradually setting in. With this, she is alone once again, and her hopes of returning to the perfect family life with Clark crumble into dust.
While Clark and Aneesha’s relationship has its ups and downs for much of the season, they seem to find a balance in the lead-up to the heartbreaking end of the episode. Both characters realize that, while they do desire a life of peace and warmth, a part of them still yearns for the thrill and sense of belonging that came with the fight for a larger cause. The WDC-led charge against the aliens provides a vessel for exactly that, and both Clark and Aneesha return to their niches as a logistics expert and a doctor, respectively. However, in doing so, they also allow room for fissures in their relationship, and the question of priorities becomes all the more relevant. Following an intense exchange of gunfire with the Infinitas cult, Clark has a reality check and figures out that he wants Aneesha’s safety above all. With his death, his relationship with her, as well as their children, Luke and Ryder, has a tragic finish, with the hopes of a shared future being replaced by a grim reminder of the cycle of violence.
Actor Enver Gjokaj’s Time With This Daring Character Has Likely Reached Its End
The unexpected death of Clark Evans also means that actor Enver Gjokaj’s role in the story is most likely over. First appearing in the season two premiere, Enver quickly solidified himself as a core presence within the show, with his action and emotional chops bouncing off of the cast to create a richer narrative. As such, his demise in the final stretch of this season serves as a signal for how dire things can get, as well as sets up several new plot threads. The most important one of these is Aneesha noticing a piece of paper in Clark’s vest. This brings up the possibility of the character still having relevance to the story, which in turn means that Gjokaj might be reprising his role once again. Given that the contents of this letter have the potential to not just stir the plot further, but subvert it entirely, it is unlikely for the actor not to be a part of the revelation in some creative fashion, be that a voice-over or an imagination sequence.
Although there is a distinct possibility of Enver Gjokaj making a cameo appearance in the show going forward, his role as an active character has come to an end. An altogether different scenario that might take shape, ironically, depends on the actions and beliefs of Marylin, the person who killed Clark. Her cult, Infinitas, believes that everyone who has died since the start of the invasion is simply getting connected to the higher consciousness that resides in the mothership, and that gives them the occasional ability to make contact with humans. Given that the show has a history of playing with the idea of death, especially with characters like Caspar, there is a slim chance that Clark is on the same boat. However, given his disconnect with the supernatural elements of the show, a closure in the form of death is still more likely.
Read More: Who is Infinitas AKA Marylin Tanner? Who plays Her in Invasion?
